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'Lenient' sentence upheld for dangerous driver who caused 'devastating' harm to five-year-old
Summary
In the case of the Director of Public Prosecutions versus Emmett Rigney, a 22‑year‑old from Shinrone, Co Offaly, the Court of Appeal upheld a two‑year suspended sentence. Rigney was convicted of dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury after a head‑on collision with a vehicle in Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, on 14 August 2021. The crash left a five‑year‑old daughter with a severe traumatic brain injury and caused significant financial and emotional hardship for her family, including a pregnant mother who testified that the incident had a destructive impact. The original headline sentence of three and a half years was reduced to two years, suspended for two years on the condition of €10,000 compensation, and Rigney was disqualified from driving for six years.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Lenient' sentence upheld for dangerous driver who caused 'devastating' harm to five-year-old. Charges or matters: dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury arising out of a road traffic collision between two vehicles at Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, on August 14, 2021. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- August 14, 2021 Incident
- April 2024 Incident
- April 26, 2024 Other
- 2025-04-03 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: dangerous driving causing serious bodily injury arising out of a road traffic collision between two vehicles at Ballingarry, Co Tipperary, on August 14, 2021 (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; While acknowledging that the sentence imposed was lenient, he said that the court did not consider it to be unduly lenient or outside of the norm. Saying that the sentence imposed was designed to "achieve communication of significant censure and to achieve deterrence both specific and general", Mr Justice Edwards ruled that the court was not persuaded that the sentencing judge got the balance wrong in all the circumstances.
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